Against the Wall follows the trials and tribulations of “Abby Kowalski” (Carpani), a single Chicago police officer who finally scores her dream job as a detective; but it turns out a nightmare for her close-knit family of cops. As the newest hire in the department’s Internal Affairs division, Abby suddenly finds herself at odds with her fellow officers, including her father and three brothers. She must now figure out how she can pursue her dream of being a detective while keeping her family intact. Williams and Baker star as Abby’s parents “Don” and “Sheila.” Rounding out the cast as her brothers are Brandon Quinn (Entourage) as “Richie,” Steve Byers (Smallville) as “Steve” and James Thomas (Covert Affairs) as “Donnie.” Additionally, Marisa Ramirez (Spartacus: Gods of the Arena) stars as Abby’s partner “Lina Flores,” Daniel Kash (The Dresden Files) is her boss “Lieutenant Papadol,” Andrew Walker (Maybe It’s Me) plays Richie’s partner “Brody,” Mayko Nguyen (Lifetime’s Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy) is Abby’s neighbor “Mackie Phan” and Chris Johnson (The Vampire Diaries) appears as “Danny Mitchell,” a lawyer and old friend of Abby’s.

The official word: Considered by many to be the most ruthless criminal of the 20th century, Pablo Escobar lived a lavish lifestyle filled with luxurious possessions, limitless spending and no fear of government intervention. Among the Colombian drug lord’s most prized possessions was his immense compound called Hacienda Napoles, home to his personal zoo of more than 700 animals including his childhood obsession – hippos.

On July 19 at 10 PM (ET/PT), Animal Planet’s one-hour special DRUG KINGPIN HIPPOS explores Escobar’s decades-long stranglehold on Colombia and the lasting threat his hippos continue to pose to the country today. Unearthing archival footage and featuring exclusive interviews, including with Roberto Escobar, Pablo’s eldest brother and closest friend, DRUG KINGPIN HIPPOS will provide viewers with a history of Escobar’s rise to prominence and his ultimate demise as the world’s preeminent narco-terrorist. The special also chronicles the plight of a team of Colombian veterinarians as they race against the clock to locate a runaway adult male hippo, a living symbol of Escobar’s lasting terror on the country.

The official word: Syfy will celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with three marathons (Warehouse 13, Eureka and The Twilight Zone) along with the premiere of the horror movie The Hills Have Eyes.

The fireworks begin on Friday, July 1, by giving fans of Syfy’s two most popular series a chance to re-live last year’s exciting seasons. The Warehouse 13 season two marathon airs 8AM-8PM (ET/PT), while the Eureka season 4.0 marathon runs 11PM-5AM.

The official word: Reminiscent of the Alfred Hitchcock classic REBECCA, but with a decidedly Chinese supernatural twist, THE MATRIMONY is the third feature film from Mainland Chinese director Teng Hua-Tao. Released by Palisades Tartan, under its Asia Extreme label, THE MATRIMONY will land on shelves nationwide on July 26th on Blu-ray™ for $24.98 SRP and DVD for $19.98 SRP.

“We are the true home for Asia Extreme releases and will continue to selectively add films under that moniker to our brand,” said Soumya Sriraman, President/CEO, Palisades Tartan Films. “We are pleased to deliver another collectible title to fans of this genre.” . . .

The official word: Lifetime Television’s critically acclaimed series Drop Dead Diva will air a marathon of season two episodes, followed by two episodes from this season on Sunday, July 3 starting at 10:00am ET/PT.

The official word: As the world around him changes, a small town boy is thrust into adulthood and must face the uncertainties of his new life in the mesmerizing and nostalgic SKATELAND, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD August 30 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Nominated for a Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, SKATELAND paints a stunning picture of the economic and social stresses of the early 1980s and features a talented young cast.

The official word: The mystery of the universe(s) deepens and two worlds collide with the release of Fringe: The Complete Third Season from Warner Home Video (WHV). The critically acclaimed third season of television’s most thrilling sci-fi series features 22 mind-bending episodes with over three hours of brand new special features, including a Blu-rayTM exclusive featurette and free download offer for an HD digital copy of all 22 episodes. Recently renewed for a fourth season on FOX, Fringe (Fridays 9/8c) continues to be a solid hit among fans and critics. Fringe: The Complete Third Season comes to DVD and Blu-rayTM for the first time September 6, 2011 for $59.98 / $69.97 SRP.

Immersive. Compelling. Hypnotic. Brilliantly imaginative. Endlessly thrilling. Pick your term. The Fringe team escapes from the parallel universe – except for Olivia, trapped in the other world and replaced in ours by her double, who turns Peter and Olivia’s tentative relationship into a love affair. Then Olivia returns, bonds of trust fray, ever more bizarre and terrifying phenomena occur, and secrets that stretch back to 1985 threaten to destroy our universe. Or theirs.

Yes, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is now showing the dress made of meat which Lady Gaga wore to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010. It was installed this morning, with camera crews in attendance. A few facts culled from interviews with museum officials:

-- It was made from 20 pounds of Argentinian beef in two layers, fresh at the time, with a cloth lining.

The cast of "Hot in Cleveland" is in Northeast Ohio these days, and you can find my story from last night's event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here. After the jump are some notes about the event that yielded the story.

The season finale of the AMC series, which has been renewed for a second season, airs Sunday night. I watched faithfully for weeks and then, well, didn't. Just got tired of the whole thing. You may differ.

Anyway, the official word: Sundance Channel will air a marathon of the hit series “The Killing” leading into the June 19 season one finale on sister network AMC. Sundance Channel’s marathon of “The Killing” will air the first six episodes starting Saturday, June 18 from 4-10PM ET/PT, and the subsequent six episodes on Sunday, June 19 from 4-10PM ET/PT. Viewers can then catch the season one finale on Sunday, June 19 at 10PM ET/PT on AMC.

They may not like the magazine in Salt Lake City, but JT took time to be an interview subject. Selected comments from the issue due out Friday:

On filming sex scenes with Mila Kunis for Friends with Benefits: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t completely awkward. I couldn’t tell you the number of people in the crew watching me and my bare a*s, but it was a lot. The producers and I agreed we would shoot a big chunk of the movie before we got down to the sex scenes, which was a good idea. That allowed Mila and me time to get comfortable…Most of the sex scenes are actually played for laughs, and she’s such a gifted comedian…a lot of the time it was just me making a fool of myself. You can’t be shy with comedy even when you’re standing there naked.”

NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group and Hyperion Books announced today that they will publish “Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America,” a book written from the perspective of show character Leslie Knope (portrayed by Emmy Award nominee Amy Poehler). Knope serves as Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation department for Pawnee, Indiana on the hit NBC series “Parks and Recreation” (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET).

The 240-page book, which includes illustrations, photographs, and other characters’ commentaries, will hit bookstores on October 4, 2011. Pottinger Nichols, the literary licensing agency for NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group, brokered the deal.

The official word: Daniel Tosh will continue with deliciously twisted abandon to take on infinite offerings of the Internet as COMEDY CENTRAL orders a fourth season of the weekly hit series "Tosh.0," it was announced today by Kent Alterman, head of original programming and production COMEDY CENTRAL. The fourth season of "Tosh.0" will consist of 26 episodes and premiere in January 2012.

Currently in its third season with new episodes airing Tuesday nights at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, "Tosh.0" ranks as the #1 show on all of television on Tuesday nights among Men 18-34 and Men 18-24 and is a break-out ratings success for COMEDY CENTRAL, averaging 4.2 million total viewers and a 2.9 Adult 18-49 rating during its current season, making it the most-watched and highest-rated series on COMEDY CENTRAL. (source: Nielsen Media Research, most current data, 1/11/11-6/7/11, original telecasts only)

The official word: After an extensive search following the passing of legendary voice Charlie O’Donnell, Wheel of Fortune has selected Jim Thornton to succeed him as the show’s announcer. The announcement was made today by the show’s Executive Producer Harry Friedman.

“We are delighted to welcome Jim Thornton into the Wheel of Fortune family,” said Friedman. “Jim’s rich, friendly voice and engaging personality are a great fit for our show and its tradition.”

“This has been a lifelong dream, and to be able to follow in the footsteps of a legend like Charlie O’Donnell is truly humbling,” said Thornton. “Being selected as announcer for Wheel of Fortune is a huge honor. Now I just have to make sure I don’t call out the answers to the puzzles when my mic is open!”

Fans have already heard Thornton’s voice as one of the guest announcers during Season 28, and he will take on the position full-time when Wheel of Fortune begins broadcasting its 29th Season on September 19.

Continues after the jump.

One of the most popular and distinctive voices in Southern California, Thornton has been a part of KNX 1070 Newsradio since 1985 when he provided traffic reports with the syndicated traffic service, “Metro Traffic.” He then became a fulltime traffic reporter during morning drive for both KNX and CBS2 News, before taking on his current role as host of the afternoon drive newscast in January 2005."

In his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia, Thornton began his broadcast career in 1983 at WOWK/TV while attending Marshall University. A year later, he moved to California and by 1989, he had his own morning show on Magic 94.3FM in the San Fernando Valley. Then, in 1992, Thornton became a “Hot Country” disc jockey for Westwood One Radio Networks, hosting live music from coast to coast. From 1995 to 1999, he was the voice of Channel 13, KCOP-TV in Los Angeles.

Over the course of his career, Thornton has received numerous broadcasting awards including the Edward R. Murrow award, Golden Mike awards and an Emmy. He also lent his voice to the 2011 Oscar Nominated Short Animated Film, Let’s Pollute.

-- Often when LeBron James was in Cleveland, he would get this look and I would think of Burt Reynolds. Reynolds played Billy Clyde Puckett in the screen version of Dan Jenkins' "Semi-Tough," and at a crucial moment Billy Clyde declared "I am choosing to win this (bleep)ing game." LeBron had that thing where you could see that he had chosen to win the game -- and that nothing was going to get in his way. I did not see that look in the pivotal Boston games a season ago, nor was it much in evidence during the finals against Dallas this year. (No regrets, by the way. If Cuban, Dirk and the gang stop by Cleveland, I'll buy them a drink. Considering the scandal at TOSU and the Indians' slump, I'll take the Mavs beating the Heat as a reason to celebrate.) Much has been written about LBJ checking out during the games, and I have to wonder if winning matters enough to him anymore.

The official word: Starting June 30, moviegoers age 25 & under will pay only $5 to attend movies at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. $5 tickets will be sold at the door only, as seats are available. Those claiming the discount should have an I.D. with their birthday on them.

“This new price will allow young people to more easily afford to attend the wealth of truly interesting and exceptional films that the Cinematheque presents,” says Cinematheque Director John Ewing. “And not just in July and August of this our 25th Anniversary year, but always.”

Titus, whom you may remember from his Fox series "Titus," his comedy specials or his role on the short-lived "Big Shots," is bringing his latest monologue, "Neverlution" to Hilarities in Cleveland on Friday and Saturday.

With him comes controversy because of a recent comment he made about Sarah Palin -- one he now admits was a bad joke. I've written a short story about that for Friday's Beacon Journal. After the jump I have posted a much-expanded version of that story, with far more material than the print version, including Titus talking about other projects, his writing life and his adventures in series television. Take a look.

There will be sneak previews Thursday of "Super 8" at Cinemark Valley View and Regal Crocker Park. (Check theaters for times.) And the movie is offering some extra incentives via Twitter. Here's the official word on that:

Paramount Pictures and Twitter jointly announced today sneak preview showings of the movie SUPER 8 for 1-day only on Thursday, June 9th, in advance of the film’s scheduled nationwide release on Friday, June 10th. To promote the sneak previews, the companies have designated the hashtag #Super8Secret, which Paramount has also sponsored as a Promoted Trend, allowing Twitter’s global user base a direct link to buy tickets to the advanced previews. At select, participating theatres in the United States, Super 8 Sneak Preview moviegoers will be treated to a free popcorn (with a concession purchase) at each sneak preview show. Hosting movie sneak previews marks a first for Twitter. This promotion continues a key partnership between Paramount and Twitter on SUPER 8. The duo joined forces in March for the movie’s exclusive trailer premiere via Twitter, another exciting first for the site.

I did not preview "X-Men: First Class" because I had to attend a simultaneous screening of "Super 8" instead before interviewing one of the actors, Zach Mills. (You can read that interview here.) But I was curious about "X-Men," so the bride and I caught a late-Sunday-afternoon screening. Some notes follow the jump.

The official word follows. From it, here's the vague explanation of what will happen to "GH": The eight ABC Owned stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh/Durham and Fresno, which represent nearly 23% of the nation’s TV households, have already cleared the new show in the 3:00 p.m. time slot. As part of the announcement, the network is set to return the last hour of its Daytime network block to affiliates no earlier than September 2012, but continues to support “General Hospital,” and the plans to launch “The Chew” in September of this year and “The Revolution” in January 2012

Here is the bulk of the official word: Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG) has signed a multi-year, multi-platform agreement with Katie Couric, award-winning journalist, best-selling author and popular TV personality, to host and produce her own nationally syndicated talk show and to join the ABC News team, it was announced today by Anne Sweeney, president, Disney/ABC Television Group and co-chair, Disney Media Networks. The program will be distributed by Disney/ABC Domestic Television and will premiere in September 2012.

The official word: Get ready to say “G.T.L” in Italian! MTV today announced that Season Four of its hit series “Jersey Shore” will premiere Thursday, August 4 at 10p.m. ET/PT, as the cast goes to Florence, Italy. This summer will be hotter than ever when America’s favorite roommates head overseas to learn all about the culture they love and live by in the birthplace where it all began. As they navigate a new country, they will bring their trademark hilarity, fist-pumping and family dysfunction to “the beautiful country.” Fans will get to see more of the show they love, as MTV also announced today that Season Five begins production in June. Going back to the place where a pop culture phenomenon was born, the cast will return to the surf and sand of Seaside Heights, New Jersey for their fifth season.

On Thursday, July 28 at 10p.m. ET/PT, MTV will air a one-hour special that chronicles the rise of “Jersey Shore” from its beginning as a buzzed about new show to its current status as a pop culture juggernaut and the highest rated series in the network’s history. The special will tell the story of “Jersey Shore” through footage from some of the series’ most iconic and fan-favorite moments and new interviews with the cast in which they share their personal thoughts on the show and their journey to the top of the television landscape.

The official word: The numbers are coming, the numbers are coming! Beginning July 1st, 2011 Ohio Lottery players will be able to watch the Pick 3, Pick 4 and Rolling Cash 5 drawings on Channel 3 Monday through Friday at 7:29 p.m., as well as the Cash Explosion® television show on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled to be the new home of the Ohio Lottery in Northeast Ohio, and look forward to sharing all the excitement with our viewers,” said WKYC President and General Manager Brooke Spectorsky. Moving from longtime carrier WEWS, the Ohio Lottery will be working with NBC affiliate and market leader WKYC to expand its community outreach.

The official word: Ghost Hunters, Syfy’s longest-running original reality series, has been renewed for an eighth season. Since its 2004 premiere, Ghost Hunters has spawned two spin-offs (with over 200 episodes among the three series), cementing its place as the #1 paranormal franchise in cable. 20 all-new episodes for season eight are slated to premiere on Syfy in 2012.

On Wednesday nights at 9pm for nearly seven years, Ghost Hunters has set the standard for paranormal series, offering viewers spine-tingling cases from the files of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) - led by Rhode Island plumbers Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson.